mancityblues.com

Thursday, Nov. 27th 18.00 hrs

The two teams haven't met since the days of uncle Joe Mercer, but now a win for either team is likely to see them progress to the next stage. Schalke have four points (quatre points) and we have three (trois points), oder vier punkten und drei punkten - das durfen Sie nie vergessen - get used to the terminology because we will be around for a long time, now we are finally back. Forget past mistakes, we weren't really there.
This is a short video of what Wisla Krakow did to Schalke a year or two ago, all City need to do is this:

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=SC7dTmfk8tM

Now that's not so hard is it? (Schalke fans: Ich habe das nicht ernst gemeint!)

This is from the Uefa.com site:

"A win for Schalke will guarantee them a place in the last 32. No side has ever been eliminated from the UEFA Cup group stage with seven points, though it is theoretically possible for four sides to finish level with seven points, with one team being eliminated on goal difference.
A win for City will most likely send them through too. Schalke have played eight UEFA club competition games against English teams and met Chelsea FC in the group stage of last season's UEFA Champions League, losing 2-0 in London and drawing 0-0 at home. Their record in all of those matches reads W3 D2 L3."

There we are then. So, where do Schalke threaten?

Wilhelm's take on the opposition;
"Schalke's only home loss this season was to Bayern.
They've beaten Atletico at home, but got trounced away.
They're averaging about 1.5 goals and conceding 1. I think Schalke has become more conservative than Stuttgart and PSV were, and seem to be more like Hamburg
Theyre not so soft, I guess, but if our defence hold as against the arse I think we'll breach their defences in the first 15 minutes and then itll be a shooting gallery"

Bloovic has been digging around;
"Schalke are coached by Dutchman Fred Rutten, previously manager of FC Twente, who has never met english opponents. On paper, they have a pretty good side, boasting the likes of Euro cup stars Rakitic, Engelaar, Kuranyi, Altintop and Asimoah (sp?), as well as a few Brazilians such as Farfan and their captain Bordon. I was very impressed with Altintop at the Euro's, and he is currently on form after scoring twice at the weekend. Rakitic is Schalke's playmaker, they tend to attack on the flanks and have been compared to Liverpool and Chelsea in their playing style. Hard-working, efficient and not averse to the physical side of the game."

Fatboyslimming;
"Farfan's Peruvian and probably their most dangerous attacker along with Halil Altintop who has a decent shot from distance. Farfan likes to cut in from the left into his right foot, not unlike Robinho but not quite in his class. Kuranyi always strikes me as a donkey. I watched them on Setanta recently at Hamburg and defensively they looked vulnerable to pacy attacks but comfortable against slow build-up play.

Mark Hughes obviously has confidence in his back four, where Zabaleta and Garrido are improving with every game, The Richards and Dunne partnership is back and fared well against the Arsenal. Whatever your opinion of that may be, Hughes will play what he sees as his strongest team.
Expect Kompany to figure, Ireland has to be one of the first names on the team sheet, along with Shaun Wright-Phillips and Robinho, if available, who seems to be settling into the Premiership and relishing every challenge.
He may stick with the pace and power of Vassell, although when Elano came on on Saturday, he was hungry for the ball and looked classy. Jo or Benjani? Jo for me, if available, then maybe Danny Sturridge, who insisted that he took his own penalty against Arsenal, showing courage if not a little arrogance (and all good strikers need a bit of that) and buried it.
If City have the same level of commitment and endeavour as they showed in the second half against Arsenal, there is no reason why we shouldn't come home with three points, pray that there are no injuries before the derby game.

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